Folding stretcher.



. L. FILLIUS.

FOLDING STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1912.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

.2 SHEETS-SHEET M INVENTOR A llorm WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANoGnm-H 60.,WASHINGTON, uv c.

H. L. FILLIUS.

FOLDING STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. I912.

1,151,932. Pat ntedAug. 31,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

o 21 4/29 I g 1 I "I HmQiIH i! MUM I95 ,3; J6 J6 Jl6 J4 20 COLUMBIAPLANOORAPH C0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

HABRY L. FILLIUS, OF WASH INGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FOLDING STRETCI-IER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug; 31 1915,

Application filed November 13, 1912. Serial No. 731,200.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PARRY L. FILLIUs, acitizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District ofColumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingStretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

The aim of my invention has been the production of a stretcher which maybe folded and unfolded with the least number of operations, and withoutdifliculty or delay even by the most unexperienced. And I have so farsucceeded that the stretcher of my invention may be unfolded and in turnfolded by two operations only, the one the simple and obvious unfoldinglongitudinally of the side poles, and the other the simple moving of theextended sidepoles apart from each other to stretch the canvas covering,or bringing them together to collapse the same.

The stretcher of my invention is complete in every detail, simply andstrongly built, is mechanically most eliicient in operation and durable,and at the same time of simple, straight, attractive lines and of thelight construction adapting it for ready transportationyet the twosimple operations only are required for each ofits unfolding and foldingmovements, the unfolding and folding movements and the locking ofallparts being controlled through the simple manipulation of the sidepoles as specified. The side poles may be most conveniently manipulatedin all cases by direct grasp of the grips on their ends, which factinsures the preservation of order in the handling of the stretcher,prevents mishandling, and reduces to a minimum the time required. Thereis no chance of jockeying about for holds in the unfolding, or thefeverish pulling and pushing of miscellaneous strapping, locking andbracing devices.

The details of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings andwill be described with reference thereto.

Of the drawingsFigure l is a perspective view showing the stretcher ofmy in vention with the canvas covering removed for the purpose ofclarity. Fig. 2'shows one part of one of the side poles and a connectedsame. Figs. 6 and 7are transverse sections on lines 6+6 and 77respectively of Fig. 5.

The side poles are designated generally 10l( They are each made in twohalves a b connected together bythe downwardly opening hinges 1l11.

The side poles are spaced apart by folding spacing rods 12 pivotallyconnected at their opposite ends with the side rods 10 and foldinginwardly at the middle as shown in dotted lines in Fig.1. ,To each endof each side pole is pivotally connected a leg adapted to be moved aboutits pivot into and out of position alongside of theside pole to which itis attached.

The canvas covering (not shown) is stretched over the top of the sidepoles, and is secured either to the outsi'des of the poles or totheirunder sides as may bepreferred.

Within the body of the part a on each side pole (or within the body ofthe part b if preferred),are located close to the hinge pin 13, buton-the oppositeor under side of the pole, two oppositely movingtransversely arranged locking boltsld, sliding in socket 15 which isextended through the adjacent side plates 16 of the hinge connected withmember a. The side plates 17 of the hinge connected with the member 6are extended to form projections or hinge ears 18, which when the sidepoles are extended as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, overlap the side plates 16connected with the member a of the pole. In these overlapping portionsare formed sockets 19 adapted to register with the socket 15 in theplates 16 connected with the member a when the pole is extended asshown, whereby the two transversely arranged sliding lockingbolts 14 maybe moved in opposite directions into the registering sockets l519, tolock the hinged joint open and the side rod in extended position. Thusthe side ,rod' cannot collapse when theload strain comes upon it. Bysuitably proportioning the size of the hinge plates and the size of thelocking bolts 14: and hinge pins 13, I have succeeded in making thestrengthof this joint as great as is needed for any service. The lockingbolts 14 and the'registering sockets 15 and 19 are made circular andaccurately fitting, whereby the joint is rigid. when locked in extendedposition. -l\foreover there is no wear at'the joint and it retains itsrigidity substantially throughout the life of the stretcher.

The locking bolts 14: as aforesaid are locked on the interior of thepart a of the pole, the View shown in Fig. 5 being taken with thecovering plate 20 (see Figs. 6 and 7 removed. Through a transverse lever21 pivoted at to the part a and connected by pins 23 to the scissorslevers 2 which in turn are connected with the locking bolts 1 1 throughslots 25 in which their ends bear, the locking bolts 14: may be operatedfrom the exterior of the part a,by simply moving the operating lever 21back and forth. The end of the operating lever 21 projects through aslot 26 in the hinge plates and the entire locking device is inclosed,rendering the structureof the hinge joint essentially simple andstraight-lined, free of exterior parts which may catch and bind on thecanvas covering and give trouble during the folding. The location'of thelock within the body permits folding of the side poles in the smallestcompass which their substantially uniform cross section will permit.

The operating lever 21 is connected by rod 27 extending substantiallyparallel and on the inside of the side pole :(see Fig. 1) to one of thespacingrods 12' on one side of the pivotal connection of the spacing rodto the side pole, whereby, when the side poles have been extended, whenthey are moved apart, the movement of the spacing rod 12 operates thelocking bolts 14 to lock the side poles in extended position.

- The legs, 121areconnected by rods 28 extending substantially parallelwith the side poles, each to the part of the side pole oppositelongitudinally to that to which it is attached. This connection 28 ismade in each case from apivotal point 29 above the pivotal connection 30of the leg with the side pole to the hinge ear 31 or other movingportion on the other end of the pole, where by when the side poles arefolded and extended, the legs 121 have imparted to them movement to andfrom folded position. One of the connecting rods 28 of each side poleconnects to the outside hinge ear of the opposite part of the rod (seeFigs. 3 and 7 while the other rod 28 of the same side pole connects tothe inside hinge ear through an arc-shaped slot 32in the outside hingeear. Preferably the pivotal connection to the hinge ear is made by pins33 fixed on the ends of the rods and held in sockets or pin holes 34respectively in inner and outer hinge plates by means of a washer 35 orother means on the transversely extending hinge pin 13. Anotherconstruction may be employed if desired but this is simple and easilyconstructed and assembled.

Pivotally connected with each leg 121 is a brace 13d pivotally connectedin turn with a small locking lever 35 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3), in turnpivotally connected at its outer end to the inside of side rod 10. Bythis outer pivotal connection the movement of the leg 121 into and outof folded position is unobstructed by the brace 13% for the reason thatin its movement outwardly (see Fig. 3) the brace 134 carries thelockinglever 35 around its pivot to a folded position within the width of theside pole.

The inner end of the locking lever 35 is bent over to cooperate with thelocking projection on the outside of spacing rod 12. The lockingprojection 35 on the spacing rod is in extended position shown in Fig.1, hooks over the end of locking lever 35 and fixes it in position withrespectto the side pole 10, whereby the brace 134 is made effective andthe legs are rigidly positioned.

The spacing rods 12 are constituted toggles by the formation of theirmiddle joints 36 as locking toggle joints. This is simply done byproviding projections 37 and 38 on the hinge which permit the spacingrods to be unfolded to full length from their inner dotted linepositions, and then just a little beyond their position of greatestlength whereby the stretched canvas maintains the spacing rods in thisextended position, their tendencyto collapse outwardly being preventedby the abutting projections 3738. In this position the pivot 36 iswithout the line of centers between the points of pivotal connection ofthe rods 12 to the poles 10. To collapse the rods 12 a slight pressureat the joints 36 only is necessary.

lVith this understanding of my invention,

its manipulation as above described will be most readily perceived.Assuming the stretcher folded, both side rods being folded together asthe one side rod is shown in Fig. 3, the hand grips 39 at the ends ofthe poles are grasped, one pair by each of two persons, and with theside poles still closely side by side, they are unfolded at the hingejoint 11 in a manner similar entirely to the unfolding of the ordinaryslide rule. The manipulators are then at opposite ends of the stretcher.By this simple act of unfolding, the legs 121 have been moved by theconnecting rods 28 to extended position and the legs rest upon the flooror ground as the case may be. It is then necessary only that the sidepoles be moved apart as shown in dotted lines and as in full lines inFig. 1, the manipulators simply moving the hand grips 39 apart byspreading their arms apart. By making these movements suddenly, the rods12 lock automatically. As a result of this movement, the rod 27 has beenmoved by the unfolding of spacing rod 12 to throw the lockingbolts l4;and render the side poles rigid in extended position. So also thelocking levers 35 have been engaged by projection 35 and the extendedlegs 121 are rigidly braced in position. The stretcher may be thenimmediately lifted and carried to a desired point ofservice, or havingbeen unfolded at the point of serv ice, the burden may be placed upon itand transported to the desired point. It should be noted especially thatthe two operations just described follow each other consecutively andimmediately. If desired a small downward pressure may be put on thegrips 39 when the side poles are moved apart,

whereby the hinged joints 11 are kept fully open and the operation ofthe lock is unimpeded. The position ofthe legs 121 on the other hand maybe such as respects the simply the reverse of that described, the

rods 12 being first collapsed and theside poles moved close together,whereupon they may be folded upon each other and together as shown inFig. 8,

WVhile I have describedthebestf form of my invention now known tome, 1wish to have it understood that my invention may be given other forms bythose skilled in the art without departing iii any wise-from the genericspirit ofits' essential features, and that I desire to cover in theannexed claims all such modifications. i I e Having thus described myinvention,-what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat'- ent isi 1. A side pole for stretchers made intwo portions hinged togetherandhaving overlapping hinge plates oneach of two opposite sides, saidhinge plates" being provided with sockets adaptedto r'egister when thepole is extended, together with a pair of operatively connectedoppositely 'moving locking bolts mounted transversely of one of saidportions and adapted simultaneously to be slid into said sockets whenthey register to lock the pole in-extended position.-

2. A side pole for stretchers made in two portions hinged together,together with. a locking device located interiorly of one of saidportions of the pole, adapted tolock ing said side poles and adapted tospace the same apart, together with an operating connection between saidlocking devices and a part of said stretcher vwith respect to which thepoles move when the stretcher is un' folded whereby the locks areautomatically operated during the unfoldingoperation.

4. A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles each made in twopartshinged together, a locking device associated with I I each hingejoint and adapted to lock the parts of each pole together in extendedpo-- sitio-n, folding spacmg rods connectlng the two side poles andadapted to space the same apart and a connection between the aforesaidlocks and one of the folding spacing rods whereby when the side polesare moved with respect to each other the locks are operated. I

5. A side pole i for a folding stretcher made in two parts hingedtogether and folding legs fixedly pivoted thereto connected with saidside pole one on each side of the hinge joint and operated into and outof folded position '"through the relative movement of said two parts ofthe pole,

the connection to the legs ineach case when the pole is extendedparalleling and lying substantially adjacent'to the body of the pole;

#6. Aside pole for folding stretchers comprising two parts hingedtogether and folding legs connected with saidpole one'on each "side-0fthe hingejoint' and movable all the way into and out of folded" positionthrough connection each with 'thatpart of thepole on the opposite sideof the hinge joint itself, the said operating connections between thelegs and the hinge when the pole is extended lying in substantially thesame right line. Y a

7. Aside pole for stretchers comprising twoparts hinged together, thehinge connecting the parts haying integrally formed hinge-axis earsofconsiderable radius from the axis of the hinge, folding'legs connectedtherewith and connecting rods between the said legs and the ears of thehi 'ige connecting the parts, said connecting rods being con-' 8.,A sidepole for stretchers comprising two parts hinged together, a folding legon each part, a connection from the outer hinge ear on the one part tothe folded leg on the other, an arc-shaped slot in said outer hing-e earon the one part, and a connection through said arcuate slot from theinner hinge ear on the said other part to the folding leg on the one.

. 9. A side pole for stretchers comprising two parts hinged together, afolding leg on each part, and connecting rods extending from the saidlegs to the opposite hinge ears of the said hinge joint between the twoparts and saidconnecting rods being eccentrically connected with saidhinge ears whereby relative movement of said two parts of thepole causesthe folding and unfolding of the said legs, together with means where,-by the; hinge pin maintains the two said connecting rods connected withthe ears of the hinge.

10. A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles, legs onsaidside poles which are adapted to be moved from. folded positionssubstantially parallel with the rods to extended positions substantiallytransverse thereof, together with folding transverse spacing rods whichwhen collapsed are free from the legs but which when extended engage andbrace the legs in extended position. Y

11. A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles, a pair offolding spacing rods connecting said poles together and adapted tospacethem apart, and in addition folding legs .on one of the aforesaidelements braced inextended position by the other of said elements, saidspacing rods having connection with said poles independently of saidlegs.

12. A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles, a pair offolding spacing rods connecting them together adapted to space themapart when extended, and additional independently movable folding legsmount- A ed on one of said elements, and projections from the othergroup of said elements which engage and brace said legs mextendedposltion.

13. A side pole for stretchers made of two portions hinged together andhaving in extended position overlapping parts, on opposite sidesthereof, a pair of oppositely moving locking bolts mounted transverselyof one of said portions and means for simulof collapsed position throughrelative move- 'ment of the parts of the poles, collapsible meansconnecting said poles together whereby said poles may be spread andbraced apart or collapsed together at will, and abutments for bracingsaid legs operated into I and out of bracing position through therelative movement of said side poles when they are spread apart andcollapsed.

16. A folding stretcher comprising a pair ofside poles each made in twoparts hinged together, a folding leg connected with each part of eachpole and operated into and out of collapsed position through relativemovement of the parts of the poles, collapsible means connecting saidpoles together whereby said poles may be spread and braced apart orcollapsed together at will abutments for bracing said legs operated intoand out of bracing position through the relative movement of said sidepoles when they are spread apart and collapsed, together with a lockassociated with the hin ed joint of each pole and also operated by therelative movement of said poles to lock the poles in extended position.I

17 A folding stretcher comprising a pair of side poles each made in twoparts hinged together, collapsible means connecting said poles wherebysaid poles are adapted to be spread and braced apart or collapsedtogether atwill', folding legs connected with said side'poles andabutments adapted to brace said -legs,moved into and out of bracingposition through the relative movements of said'side poles with respectto each other.

18. A side pole for stretchers comprising two portions hinged togetherand a lock adapted to retain said portions in extended positionscomprising overlapping parts on each "side of the pole, oppositelymoving transverse bolts adapted to engage each of the overlapping partson one side of the pole, and means for simultaneously operating saidbolts in opposite directions.

19. A side pole for stretchers comprising two sections hinged together aleg pivoted to a fixed point on each section and having a rotativemovement about said fixed point from an extended position substantiallynormal to the pole to a folded position substantially parallel thereto,and a connection between-each leg and the section of the pole carryingthe other leg, said connection being made between points on the leg andsection 10 sections of its pole and independent collapsible connectionsbetween the poles having portions which when the connected stretcher isextended, brace the legs in their extended position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15 in presence of twowitnesses.

HARRY L. FILLIUS. Witnesses:

J OHN P. TARBox, JAiwms H. MARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

